[Just from hearing it he can practically visualize the way she fights. He remembers some of his own battles--against Cass, dealing with her spells through sheer aggression. Against Delg, how frustrating his ability to counter spells with his Six King's Shield was. Against his sister...]

[They fought back and forth, both trying to keep the other on the backfoot, in a battle of wit and melee prowess as much as magical ability. He hadn't had a teammate to focus on defending him back then--he still doesn't now, but the idea of keeping people off guard and countering them to force them into a defensive posture... There's a hint of danger to his smile now.]

That sounds a lot like the final form of what I'm trying to polish and perfect with the tools I've been given here. It's the ultimate form of any mage--one that you can't beat just by getting close to or far away from. With my speed and my scimitar, I can cover a lot of ground. Between my weapons, I have a lot of various configurations and attacking styles to choose from. That just leaves applying the magic in close combat.

[He could do it before because it was his sister he was fighting--she specialized in guns and explosives and magic. With only knowledge of the very basics of martial combat, he'd have an edge. But the rules have changed--and so have his opponents. He's not fighting amateurs anymore.]

Thanks, Tyrnen. You've given a name and a face to the path I was trying to walk. That'll make it easier to find my way from here.